Dell Vostro 1500 8600M GT Replacements -- How has it been?

I apologize in advance if there is already a thread dedicated to this issue as I made sure to search around to see whether someone had already started one on this issue.


My question goes out to other Dell 1500 Vostro owners who ended up with a defective card and underwent the painstaking process of replacing their 8600M GT cards:


Have the replacement cards been defective as the stock ones? Are the replacement 8600M GT cards better built to withstand heating? Has Nvidia fixed the silicone issues?

The reason I ask is I've found sellers online who're selling the card for roughly $150. I'm willing to foot the cost as my Vostro is out of warranty and i would like to keep the notebook as a moderate gaming machine for at least 2 more years. I've decided to use an Arctic cooling solution in tandem with the 8600M card replacement to lower the chances of further silicone degrading as was seen in the last 2 years with Nvidia's 8400M and 8600M cards.


Please don't flame me for beating the dead horse. My issue concerns the replacement cards as Dell refuses to cover the damage out of warranty.

 

I don't recall too many people, if any, reporting the 8x00 issues on the 1500.

 

Imo just bake the card and it'll be sorted.

 

What do you mean by "bake?"

Sorry, I'm not all too familiar with internet jargon.